Starc, Hazlewood lead Australia to second Test win

ADELAIDE, December 6: Pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood spearheaded Australia to a crushing 120-run win over England to open up a 2-0 lead in the five-Test Ashes series in Adelaide on Wednesday.

Hazlewood snuffed out England's outside hopes of a come-from-behind victory when he dismissed captain Joe Root in the third over of the final day of the first-ever day-night Ashes Test.

Starc mopped up the tail to finish with five for 88. Holders England now face the prospect of losing the series in next week's third Test at Perth's WACA Ground where they have not won a Test since 1978.

"We always had the faith in the team and the belief," Australia skipper Steve Smith said.

"We thought if we could come out and bowl well this morning, hit our lengths and get one or two wickets then things can happen quickly."

While Root was batting England's hopes lingered of bringing off a record run chase of 345 at Adelaide Oval.

But Hazlewood enticed a bottom edge and wicketkeeper Tim Paine did the rest to the unrestrained glee of the Australian team.

Root left the field on his overnight score of 67 and with him England's hopes vanished.

"Disappointing. I don't think we did ourselves justice," Root said.

"We're still massively in the series. We showed that from the way we played yesterday.

"That has to be the benchmark how we approach the rest of the series."

Nightwatchman Chris Woakes was out to the second ball of the day, caught behind off Hazlewood for five. (AFP)